Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is the hub of two largest airlines in the United Airlines, US Airlines and United Airlines.
And while airlines often compete at major airports across the country, their hometown Career United hopes travelers will know that it is the best choice for Chicago-based people.
The airline recently launched an all-new localized marketing campaign aimed at America (and the rest of United’s competitors in the city).
Kitchen landing gear? Tour United’s renovated Chicago headquarters in Willis Tower
As travelers drive to the airport, it begins when a prominent United sign sets up a pedestrian bridge, which covers the pedestrian bridge that tells them it is the city’s number one airline.
The carrier has also launched a digital campaign to inform travelers that there are more flights, international destinations and lounges than Chicago’s US and Southwest. United have published an Instagram post citing American Airlines’ press release on America’s double-digit growth in Chicago this year. (United says he has more.)
United’s latest ad campaign is designed to plead with flyers, and chooses it over the US (or other airlines flying from Chicago). To that end, the airline is promoting the Premier Status Challenge program, which awards competitor flyers temporary status to unlock a full suite of elite perks for a longer period of time.
Depending on their status with American, United will match up all the way up to the Premier 1K.
Interestingly, the Americans said last week they would add another new domestic flight (to Idaho Falls, Idaho) in Chicago. The airline also offers an extended season in Kalispell, Montana and Wilmington, North Carolina, providing more mountains and beaches from the city for leisure.
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This new service to Idaho Falls will allow Chicago Flyers in the USA to access 10 new destinations in 2025. This results in a wider capacity increase by deploying large aircraft with premium cabin options for all flights from ORD. That growth has led to US ORD operations starting this summer of 480 daily flights, with 25% more seats and 22% more departures than last year.
Meanwhile, United say they’ll fly more seats from Chicago than they had in the past 20 years. This will total over 200 destinations, including up to 585 flights per day, including 48 international flights and 17 long-haul flights.
However, United’s statistics are ready to grow even further in the coming months.
The city of Chicago also pre-appointed United six additional gates at ORD earlier this year after applying for the (hot-contested) real estate as part of its annual review of the airline’s capabilities and flight patterns. The lease will solidify on June 1, but an airline spokesman told TPG that the gates will be used for additional growth, including two new long-haul destinations in the near future.
United’s chief commercial officer Andrew Nocera explained in detail in his first quarter revenue call on Wednesday.
“Our current facilities [in Chicago] It’s so full and people want to fly at peak times, these six gates allow us to continue to execute with United’s next plan… We’re very consistent with our strategy here in Chicago, and as a result, we have six gates and we’ll continue to grow. I think the economy of the hub looks really good right now. ”
However, American Airlines is not satisfied with the concessions from United to United in Chicago. The airline told TPG in a statement:
“Americans are committed to keeping O’Hare competitive, as our presence brings a broader flight schedule to Chicagoland customers and travelers around the world, making the city a more desirable destination for business development. As such, we reject the Impopper trigger for Chicago’s Aviation Division (CDA); the essence of dual hubs by stunting continuous growth.”
The airline said the “inappropriate trigger” is linked to ORD’s continued expansion project at L-Gate, which was not officially completed until late last month. Americans argue that under the terms of the master lease agreement, airport officials cannot redistribut the gates until the construction is complete.
Aside from refusing to reassign gates, Americans are also re-stabbing them in United, but don’t call careers by name. In its own recent Instagram post, the airline promotes why travelers should choose it from Chicago.
This is not the first time United has run a localized marketing campaign to beat its competitors. The airline did the same thing A few years ago in Denver When it trolled all (and soon retired) boarding processes for Southwest in another targeted ad campaign.
Airlines don’t often attack each other with the names of advertisements, but when they do, I always enjoy watching what happens next.
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